Effect of some fractions of the extract of Juniperus communis fruit on solving kidney stones in vitro

Background and Urolithiasis is one of the most common diseases of urinary tract. Abdominal colic pain, nausea and vomiting, and hematuria are the major clinical complains. Renal stones may obstruct urinary tract, and then damage the kidney. Medical treatment, removing the stones by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, percutaneous lithotripsy, and ureteroscopic lithotripsy are common treatments but they are expensive and may result in significant complication. The aim of this research was finding a new medication for dissolution of urinary stones with less complication and cost. Variable concentrations of some fractions of the extract of Juniperus communis fruit (500, 1000 and 2000 µg/ml solutions) were used in vitro on urinary stones brought out from human kidney. Neutral (normal saline), positive (sodium bicarbonate) and negative (acetic acid) control groups were also prepared. Significant findings were obtained in urinary stones composed of calcium oxalate (50%), calcium hydrogen phosphate (20%), magnesium ammonium phosphate, (10%) and ammonium urate (20%). The weight of dry powder of stones in normal saline decreased from 1458 mg to 1162, 1124, 1136, 1144, 1096, 1126, and 1130 mg after exposure to increasing concentrations of some fractions of the extract of Juniperus fruit. In addition, the ratio of calcium oxalate in normal saline aqueous solution plus stone increased from 70% to 80% after using some fractions of the extract of Juniperus fruit. Some fractions of the extract of Juniperus fruit can dissolve urinary stone in vitro.